This concise yet comprehensive treatment of the effects of spaceflight on biological systems includes issues at the forefront of life sciences research, such as gravitational biology, immune system response, bone cell formation and the effects of radiation on biosystems. Edited by a leading specialist at the European Space Agency (ESA) with contributions by internationally renowned experts, the chapters are based on the latest space laboratory experiments, including those on SPACELAB, ISS, parabolic flights and unmanned research satellites. An indispensable source for biologists, medical researchers and astronautics experts alike. The results of Space flight experiments, ground controls and flight simulations pave the way for a better understanding of gravity reactions in various organisms down to molecular mechanisms. This publication marks also the beginning of a new Space flight era with the construction and exploitation of the International Space Station (ISS) which provides a platform for an in-depth continuation of experiments under weightlessness in Low Earth Orbit and beyond.
Author(s): Enno Brinckmann
Edition: 1
Publisher: Wiley-VCH
Year: 2007
Language: English
Pages: 298
Cover Page......Page 1
Related Titles......Page 297
1807–2007 Knowledge for Generations......Page 3
Title: Biology in Space and Life on Earth - Effects of Spaceflight on Biological Systems......Page 4
ISBN 3527406689......Page 5
1 The Gravity Environment in Space Experiments......Page 6
4 Development and Gravitropism of Lentil Seedling Roots Grown in Microgravity......Page 7
5 Biology of Adherent Cells in Microgravity......Page 8
7 Bone Cell Biology in Microgravity......Page 9
9 Evaluation of Environmental Radiation Effects at the Single Cell Level in Space and on Earth......Page 10
Index......Page 11
Foreword......Page 12
Preface......Page 14
List of Contributors......Page 16
1 Flight Mission Scenarios......Page 20
2 Sounding Rocket Experiments......Page 23
3 Biobox on Foton and in the Space Shuttle......Page 25
4 Biorack in Spacelab and Spacehab......Page 28
References......Page 33
1.1 Introduction to Gravity Research......Page 36
1.2 Gravity Phenomena on Small Objects......Page 43
References......Page 50
Further Reading......Page 51
2.1 Introduction and Historical Background......Page 52
2.2 Evolution of Gravity Sensing Mechanisms under the Earth’s Gravity Conditions......Page 54
2.3 Specific Location and Unique Features of Gravity Sensing Cells......Page 55
2.4 Correlation between Statolith Sedimentation and Gravitropic Responses......Page 56
2.5 Is the Actin Cytoskeleton Involved in Gravity Sensing?......Page 58
2.6 Gravireceptors......Page 60
2.7 Second Messengers in Gravisignalling......Page 63
2.8 Modifying Gravitational Acceleration Forces – Versatile Tools for Studying Plant Gravity Sensing Mechanisms......Page 64
2.9 Conclusions and Perspectives......Page 67
References......Page 68
3.1 Introduction: Historical Overview......Page 72
3.2 Terminological Aspects......Page 73
3.3 Microgravity as a Tool......Page 74
3.4 Microgravity as Stress Factor......Page 78
3.5 Gravity-related Paradoxes......Page 80
3.6 Gravity and Evolution......Page 82
3.7 Conclusion and Perspectives......Page 84
References......Page 85
4.1 Introduction......Page 90
4.2 Basic Hardware Used to Perform Space Experiments......Page 101
4.3 Development in Space......Page 104
4.4 Root Gravitropism in Space......Page 112
4.5 Conclusion......Page 132
References......Page 137
5.1 Why Cell Biology Research in Microgravity?......Page 142
5.2 Medical Disturbances in Astronauts......Page 143
5.3 Mechano-receptivity and -reactivity of Adherent Cells in Culture......Page 145
5.4 Microgravity, the Loss of a Force, Leading to Cellular Disturbances......Page 152
5.5 From Ground Research to Investigations in Microgravity......Page 165
References......Page 168
6.2 Introduction......Page 176
6.4 Signal Transduction in Mechanosensing......Page 181
6.5 Single Cell Response to Mechanical Loading......Page 182
6.6 Rate-dependent Response by Bone Cells......Page 183
6.7 Implications of Threshold Activation: Enhanced Response to Stochastic Stress......Page 186
6.8 Stress Response and Cellular Deformation......Page 187
6.9 Towards a Quantitative Description of Bone Cell Mechanosensitivity......Page 188
6.10 Implications for the Extreme Condition of Unloading Microgravity......Page 191
References......Page 193
7.2 Introduction......Page 198
7.3 Bone Remodelling: An Equilibrium between Osteoblasts and Osteoclasts......Page 199
7.4 Human Studies: Response of Bone to Space Flight......Page 200
7.6 Mechanisms of Decreased Bone Formation Induced by Unloading or Space Flight......Page 201
7.7 Are Osteoblastic Cells In Vitro Responding to Altered Gravity Conditions ?......Page 203
7.8 Potential Mechanisms of Altered Osteoblastic Behaviour......Page 205
7.9 Conclusion......Page 207
References......Page 208
8.1 Introduction......Page 212
8.2 Activation of T Cells......Page 214
8.3 Earliest Data......Page 215
8.5 Spacelab D-1, 1985......Page 216
8.7 Sounding Rockets Maser 3, 1989, and Maser 4, 1990......Page 219
8.8 Spacelab Life Sciences SLS-1, 1991......Page 220
8.9 Russian MIR Station, Missions 7, 8, 9, 1988–1990......Page 222
8.10 Spacelab IML-1, 1992......Page 223
8.11 Sounding Rockets Maxus 1B, 1992, and Maxus 2, 1995......Page 224
8.12 Spacelab IML-2, 1994......Page 228
8.13 Sounding Rocket Maser 9, 2002......Page 230
8.15 Ground Simulations......Page 231
8.16 Conclusion......Page 238
Acknowledgments......Page 239
References......Page 240
9.1 Introduction......Page 242
9.2 The Space Radiation Environment......Page 243
9.3 HZE Track Detection......Page 244
9.4 Results of the RAMIROS Experiment on board of the Soyuz Taxi Flight to the ISS......Page 248
9.5 Combination of Radiation with other Biological Stress in Space Travel......Page 255
9.6 Interactions between Radiation and Gravity......Page 256
9.7 General Conclusions and Perspectives......Page 258
References......Page 259
10.1 Radiation Scenario in Space......Page 262
10.2 Questions Tackled in Space Radiation Biology......Page 267
10.3 Results of Radiobiological Experiments in Space......Page 269
10.4 Outlook: Radiation Biology and Future Exploratory Missions in the Solar System......Page 287
References......Page 290
Index (with page links)......Page 294
Back Page......Page 298
